Ian Fletcher Battlefield Tours

Agemus Agenda

Fortress Warfare

monssiege crop

Fortresses have always played an important part in military history, having the power to degrade enemy forces and cause umpteen problems for commanders and their armies. Our tour to northern France allows us to explore some of the most important fortified towns in the region and consider the impact they had on campaigns, and also how armies defended and besieged them. Anyone interested in the science of siege warfare will find this a stimulating weekend in the company of James Falkner, whose new book is a biography of the great engineer, Vauban, and Ian Fletcher.

Day 1. Depart London for cross channel tunnel. Our first visit is to the Calais citadel where we discuss the valiant stand of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, Rifle Brigade and Queen Victoria’s Rifles between 22-26 May 1940, when time was bought for the Dunkirk evacuation. Check-in 3-star Mercure Lille Centre Opera. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2. Breakfast. Visit the Lille citadel and discuss the three-month long siege in 1708, when Marshal Boufflers bought time for France in the wake of the French defeat at the Battle of Oudenarde, and consider the French defence of the citadel during the Second World War in May 1940. Visit the city museum, the Palais des Beaux Arts, to view the plan relief models of Vauban’s fortresses and the rest of the fine collection. Return to hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3. Breakfast. Visit Le Quesnoy to view the well preserved Vauban designed fortifications and walk the town walls. Discuss the daring assault by New Zealand troops on 4 November 1918, that carried the town by storm using ladders in the old style. Afternoon drive to Mauberge where we view the remaining Vauban fortifications in the northern part of the town. Short visit to the nearby Malplaquet battlefield of September 1709. Return to hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 4. Breakfast. Peronne. We view the remaining fortifications and discuss the assault by the English Foot Guards on 26 June 1815, in the wake of Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo and visit the First World War Museum inside the old citadel. Return to Calais for the channel crossing. Return to London.

21-24 September 2012 Price £780 Single Supplement £120

Package includes: Return channel crossing via Le Shuttle, three nights half-board accommodation, three breakfasts, three dinners with wine, coach transport, guides James Falkner and Ian Fletcher.